IN FULL FLIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1940, Page 7

IN FULL FLIGHT

RUSSIANS ON SALLA FRONT RELENTLESS FINNISH ATTACKS. ■•WAIST-LINE" THOUGHT SAFE TILL SPRING. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 18. Forty-five thousand Russians are in full flight on the Sa lln front after a relentless Finnish attack for some days past in which the air force disorganised the Russians' rear. The weather and the constant cutting of communications have beaten the Ruussians here, and in view of the collapse of the supporting forces in the Petsamo, Kuusamo, and Suomuussalmi sections the Finns are of the opinion that the “waist-line" is safe till the spring.

A Daventry broadcast states that the Russian forces which aimed at cutting Finland's "waist-line” are still retreating. In some places they have fallen back 30 miles. Fighting is proceeding on the railway 20 miles north of Salla. The. Russians, it is stated, have learnt a lesson from previous defeats. By falling back, they have saved the greater part of their material and they arejn a better position for defence. A Soviet communique is silent about the retreat, stating that operations were confined to patrol activities and artillery fire. Three hundred bombs were dropped on south and south-west Finland but. only slight damage was done. Northern localities were also bombed with little effect. An air raid warning was given in Helsinki. Raiders dropped bombs on the outskirts of the city and fires are reported to have broken cut. The centre of the city was unharmed and it is believed the raiders failed to reach their objective. Finland has called up some thousands of men who had had previously been exempted. The full extent of the Russian retreat in the Salla sector is not yet clear, as the Finnish headquarters have again become reticent. At Helsinki this silence is regarded as significant as a similar attitude preceded earlier Finnish victories. POLICY OF NORWAY SPEECH BY THE KING. DETERMINATION TO MAINTAIN FREEDOM. In Norway on Thursday, a raaio message stales, King Haakon, spoke of the danger oi war at a dinner given in honour of the reassembly of Parliament. Though Norway had avoided the war so far. he said, and faced many difficulties, the one ray of light was the solidarity of the Norwegian people. He was convinced that this would enable them to maintain their freedom and independence. The President of the Storting (Parliament) said that the thoughts ■ and wishes of the Norwegian people were with the Finns, for whom they hoped there would be a quick and honourable peace. "Our will to defend our Fatherland cannot find better expression of unity than in the names of our King and Crown Prince.” SOVIET APOLOGISES VIOLATION OF SCANDINAVIAN TERRITORY. The Soviet Government has expressed regret to both Sweden and Norway for violations of their territories by aircraft, a radio message reports. The Soviet explanation is that the incidents were accidental and were caused by snow and the bad weather. A Press Association message from Stockholm says a Foreign Office spokesman stated that the incident was closed. ALLIED AID STILL UNDER DISCUSSION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 18. The Prime Minister, Mr Chamberlain, was asked in the House of Commons whether the aid that was being given to Finland by the Allies included financial aid, and, if so, to wnat extent.

He replied: “This is a matter now under discussion with tne Finnish authorities. • The exact extent of financial aid which may be necessary or possible cannot yet be determined.